Chris Tillman's journey from Fountain Valley High School to Angel Stadium was significantly longer than a 20-mile trip northeast.

The 25-year-old, now a pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles, took a slight detour – minor league stops in Arizona, Washington, Wisconsin, Adelanto, Calif., rural Maryland and Virginia – before his first big-league call-up in 2009.

That odyssey, a regular trek for young prospects, made his first trip to the mound in Anaheim even sweeter.

In front of more than 60 family members, friends and former teammates, the 2006 Fountain Valley graduate arguably threw the best game of his major league career in his first start at his hometown stadium on May 2.

"It was surreal," said Tillman's mother, Kathy, who was sitting in section 118 directly behind home plate. "I can't even describe it. He's such a great kid."

After nearly seven years of traversing the country playing different levels of professional baseball, it still kills Kathy when Chris leaves. Coming home is always sweet, though, as it was May 1, when he was sent home early, ahead of the Orioles, which finished a series late in Seattle and didn't arrive in Anaheim until 4 a.m. the morning of his start.

Tillman even got to sleep in his own bed, at his parents' house in Fountain Valley.

"It was kind of hectic, to tell you the truth, to set up my family with everything and to get everyone squared away – tickets, where to park and all that jazz," Tillman said.

Even with a full night's sleep and the comforts of home, early on, it looked like his homecoming would be far from a fairy tale.

Tillman's imposing 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame was on the mound, but he appeared to be shrinking under the bright lights. He was booed by a smattering of fans when his name was announced (maybe they were from Edison), then he threw 24 pitches in the first inning, walking Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo, before a little help from a teammate turned the entire game around.

The fifth batter of the first inning, the Angels' high-priced right fielder Josh Hamilton, smacked Tillman's first pitch for a single into right field. Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis fielded the ball cleanly and gunned down Trout, who was trying to score from second base, at the plate to end the inning.

From that point forward, Tillman largely controlled the Angels' lineup. He allowed just two hits the rest of the way, struck out three and threw a season-high 114 pitches. With adrenaline pumping, his fastball touched 95 mph seven times. In his previous five starts, he threw that hard just once – a pitch against the Twins on April 6 that hit 95 mph.

"Before the game, I was definitely nervous – a little more nervous than usual, pitching in front of my family and whatnot – but once you get on the field, that's where we're comfortable," said Tillman, who admitted he was an Angels fan as a child and has been to Angel Stadium "hundreds of times."

Tillman's poise allowed his mom to relax, relatively.

"I have a hard time watching his games," Kathy Tillman said. "I normally pace back and forth, but he was really calm, and that made me calm."

The three hits Chris Tillman allowed were scattered in the first, second and sixth innings, but one came from a familiar face.

Hank Conger, the Angels' backup catcher, has played baseball with or against Tillman since they were 9 years old, and he had the best at-bat against him all night. Conger also has a track record against Tillman, one of minor legend.

In their junior years of high school, with Tillman pitching for Fountain Valley and Conger catching for Sunset League rival Huntington Beach, Conger hit two home runs off Tillman in one game.

Conger wasn't even sure it was two, but Tillman remembers it all too well, and chuckles and rolls his eyes when it is mentioned because it still bothers him.

"It was two for sure," Tillman said. "He actually hit it through the field goal posts (over the fence) in right field, on the football field at Fountain Valley. I definitely remember that."

Flash forward to Angel Stadium, and it is Conger's first at-bat against Tillman, in the second inning of a scoreless game.

Conger takes two strikes, a 94 mph fastball and a curveball that bends in at 78, then he makes Tillman work. He fouls off two pitches to stay alive – another fastball-curveball combo – then takes two balls to even the count at 2-2. Two more pitches, two more foul balls, and then a high curveball pushes the count full. On the 10th pitch of the at-bat, Conger lines a single to right field.

"I was in the box and I was fouling them off, and I don't know why, but I kept flashing back to the competitiveness from the high school days," Conger said after the game. "For some reason, I kept flashing back. I'm trying to put together a good at-bat, and I keep flashing back to high school."

Tillman said Conger's at-bat "seemed like forever."

"When he stepped in the box, it was definitely in my mind," Tillman said. "He was the guy around here. He was the No.1 player around here. Everyone knew who he was."

The two are still friends and regularly text each other during the season, but a lot has changed. Conger is still looking to get some footing in the Angels' lineup after playing just seven games in the majors last season (he played 67 games for the team's Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City), while Tillman has added a changeup and a cutter to his pitching repertoire and is looking more like a major league ace – his 2.93 ERA last season, albeit in just 15 starts, was the lowest among Orioles starters.

But you can tell the competitiveness of high school and beyond is still there. Tillman retired Conger in his final two at-bats, and his team got the most important stat – a win.

Even in a loss, Conger is happy for his friend – begrudged, but happy.

"He looked good," Conger said. "I'm still (mad) that we lost today, but he threw really well. That was definitely a good start and he battled."

OTHER MAJOR LEAGUERS FROM FOUNTAIN VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL

C.J. Wilson – starting pitcher, Angels

One of the more reliable starters in the majors for the past four seasons, the 32-year-old lefty was converted from a reliever by the Rangers in 2010.

After two years of success with the Rangers (seven seasons overall), Wilson signed a five-year, $77.5million contract with the Angels in 2012.

He had a 13-10 record and a 3.83 ERA with the Angels last season and has a 3-0 record and 4.04 ERA this season, through Monday.

After his time at Fountain Valley, he pitched at Santa Ana College and Loyola Marymount before being selected by the Rangers in the fifth round of the 2001 draft.

Casey Janssen – pitcher, Blue Jays

Since making 17 starts during his rookie season in 2006, the 31-year-old right-hander has almost exclusively been a reliever in his seven seasons with the Blue Jays (he missed the entire 2008 season with an injury).

Janssen took over as the team's closer in 2012 and has thrived in the role. He had a 2.54 ERA and 22 saves last season and has a 0.82 ERA and eight saves this year, through Monday.

Janssen played college ball at UCLA and was selected by Toronto in the fourth round of the 2004 draft.

Blake Davis – infielder, Brewers (Triple-A: Nashville Sounds)

The 2002 grad went on to play at Cal State Fullerton before being selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 2005 draft, but he did not sign.

A year later, the Orioles drafted him in the fourth round, and he spent five seasons in the minor leagues before making his major-league debut in 2011. Davis played in 25 games for the Orioles that season and hit .254 with a home run, but he has not returned to the majors since.

At 29 years old, Davis is now playing with the Nashville Sounds, the Milwaukee Brewers' Triple-A affiliate. He is hitting .206 in 19 games with the Sounds, through Monday.

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